A centuries-old axiom asserts that the only thing constant is change. While the business of providing legal counsel and services might seem bland from the outside, consider two specific ways it is progressing:

More Diligence in Hiring: “As law firms become more fiscally conservative and intent on saving costs, they are seeking to eliminate risk from their hiring protocol and make better hiring decisions,” writes Danice Kowalczyk, Esq.

She continues: “With law firms moving away from the traditional law firm business model and toward a more corporate business model, firms are likewise instituting hiring schemes which are more corporate in nature and include, but are not limited to, personality tests, unpaid or hourly paid trial periods, and impromptu oral tests setting forth complicated legal scenarios and requiring a 10-minute verbal solution in the interview setting (not unlike the essay portion of traditional state-wide Bar Exams … but oral instead of written).”

An End to Timesheets? Keeping timesheets “isn’t the only standard for measuring the value that the client places on your services,” writes Jay Shepherd. “In fact, it doesn’t measure client value at all. All it measures is a tiny portion of the time spent by lawyers solving their clients’ problems.”

Shepherd’s case for alternative fee structures is just one voice in a chorus on the subject that is growing louder – and affecting real change. Case in point: Late last year, the lobbying division at Holland & Knight formally did away with timesheets. Other firms will likely do the same.

Question is, are these changes temporary or permanent? The LMRM keynote luncheon, Navigating in Uncharted Waters: How Changes in the Legal Market Will Impact the Law Firm Risk Environment, will relate these issues back to the theme of legal risk management.

Noticing other trends worthy of attendees’ attention? Send us an email or a Twitter message to @LMRMConference and we’ll post them here in advance of the conference.